davidmcc3

Apologies ... I've just had to update the post ... our esteemed (or is it steaming?) Area Organiser got the date wrong. This isn't the first time! So ... the meeting is on Tuesday 13th March 2018 - all railway modellers welcome.

South Hants Area Group meeting The next meeting will be held on Tuesday 13th March at 7.30pm at the Southampton Model Railway Society clubrooms, Kemps Quay, Bitterne, SO18 1BZ “MERG and MERG Products and Activities” With Nigel Phillips Model Electronic Railway Group UK based group promoting interest in the application of electronics & computers to all aspects of railway modelling. See https://www.merg.org.uk/ At the end of the evening you are invited to join us at "The Station" pub next to Bitterne station. For directions to Kemps Quay please refer to the Southampton MRS website - www.southamptonmodelrailwaysociety.wordpress.com Although the South Hants Group meetings are joint EM/P4 Area Groups, every railway modeller, irrespective of scale, gauge or experience, is welcome to all our meetings. SH AG Kemps Quay 13th March 2018.pdf

Sticklepath Terrace/Hill is rising as it goes over both lines ... so Torrington bridge should be higher, I think.

Rather than hijack this thread with my own interpretation of Barnstaple Junction, I've started a new thread ... as I now have made some progress (other than sitting in an armchair surrounded by books and bits of paper). It's at: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/129587-barnstaple-junction-mid-1930s/ Regards to dessire_luvals and all for continuling inspiration and encouragement. David

I've been following a similar topic by dessire_luvals (Barnstaple Junction in EM Gauge) for the last couple of years, and I've posted a couple of times. I've now got to the point where I've got things I can post about my layout ... so I've started a new topic, not wanting to hijack dessire_luvals' topic. I've learned an awful lot by belonging to my local Club, South Hants MRC - there are some amazing modellers in the Club, and everyone is always so willing to answer my questions. I've never been one to follow the well-trodden paths of others, so I've been learning from my friends, and developing my own ideas. There are a number of things which are still undecided ... the type of couplings for exampe ... and I'm also wavering about using EM or 00. I had fully intended this to be an EM layout, but I'm wondering if the time and cost savings (mostly time) of using 00 might be the best route for me - time is not on my side. What have I decided? Radio control - no more expensive than DCC, and a huge saving in time (no track wiring, polarity switching etc.) MERG and servo control of the points and signals - route-setting, not interlocked, but with 'illegal' route warnings Constructed so the layout can be exhibited, with additional 'plain track' sections which don't fit into the loft! As little as possible positioned under the layout - servos, electronics and wiring running in 'service' channels' along the board edges The operating sequence to be mid-week so there are plenty of freight workings, and covering a whole day I'll add details and some pictures in the next post ... now it's time to get back to building the layout! David.

Many thanks for the updates. I've several maps and plans of Barnstaple Junction, plus some photos ... but I'd like to find some drawings of the station buildings - that will make working out the dimansions and building it so much easier. I'm plannning on a trip to North Devon in 2018, so I may have to take my own (square on) photos. I wonder if my wife will mind holding the marked reference stick?!

I know this is an old thread .. but does anyone know it Barnstaple Junction was in this book? Thanks, David

I've just been called by Cath at my 'railway bookseller of choice' - BookLaw - to say she has received copies of the book today ... and she is now posting my one on to me. If ever you're stuck for a good railway bookseller, try BookLaw ... online and at a selection of exhibitions ... including my club's Portsmouth Show every November.

Although the South Hants Area Group is a joint EMGS/Scalefour group, all our meetings are open to railway modellers of any gauge or scale - so please come along. Location for this meetings is the South Hants Model Railway Club clubrooms, Fort Widley, Portsdown Hill Road, Portsmouth PO6 3LS. “WESTCLIFF” Some of the story behind the prize winning layout An evening illustrated talk by Richard Butler of SHMRC. The aims and aspirations, the why, what and how of how Richard built the Westcliff layout. Tea/coffee and biscuits will be available at the meetings. At the end of the evening members are invited to join the Portsmouth locals at "The George" just down the road before they go home . The meeting is open to all, whatever scale and standards you work in. For directions to Clubroom please refer to the SHMRC website - www.shmrc.co.uk or for more information call Ray Hodson 07710 591511 PDF flyer for ###### meeting on November 28th is avialble here: http://www.emgs.org/wp-content/uploa...g-Nov-2017.pdf

The replacement for Ron Lines is "The Model Shop, Portsmouth".

I'm helping with the last bits of publicity, and working on the barriers to iron out some of the stability problems last year ... and I'm fit enough to do more than just sit on the door selling tickets this year!

This is rather disappointing news ... I'm most interested in the oprational aspects of the line (stock, services etc.). I'd been expecting this in Vol. 2 as previously advised - now I will have to wait another year ... and for various personal reasons, that may be too late. I spoke to the publishers earlier this week, and they said Vol.2 has gone to the printers ... so November availability is likely.

I heard a rumour about a new book covering the Taunton to Barnstaple line the best part of two years ago ... but then no one I spoke to knew anything about it, and I began to think is was just a rumour. I'm delighted it has now appeared (well, Volume One anyway). My copy is on it's way to me. Like Godfrey Glyn, this line isn't my primary interest - which is the Southern's North Devon Line and Barnstaple Junction in particular. However, the connection and services between the GWR and Southern have never been adequately covered in any other book on either line ... so I hope these two volumes will rectify that. Now eagerly awaiting the arrival of the postman.

Hello Bill Kipford (a friend from SHMRC) told me about your post last night. I posted a couple of years ago (Sept 2014) that I wanted to model Barnstaple Junction. The post was made 2 months before we moved into our new house in Gosport. When I did see the loft it looked caverous! Even so, after a few measurements, I realised BJ would still be a squeeze. Since then, I've spent what spare time and money I had making the loft environmentally suitable for a model railway ... and boarding it so I didn't put my foot through a ceiling. This is now complete, and I've started to assemble the supplies for building baseboards and making track. Thanks to another club friend, I have a Templot of BJ - reduced in size and generally squeezed into about 22' x 16'. The layout will be lower than I'd like (to get an extra couple of feet), and one of the roof supports has made the goods yard difficult to layout properly. But all in all, I'm happy with the result. The Domestic Authorities are insisting on one more room decoration after Christmas ... and then I'll be able to concentrate of the railway. I'm trying to put into practice all the lessons I've learned at my club over the last two years. The layout is being designed to be portable, to be light, easily assembled, and have the minimum of wiring. The biggest question for me is not 'can I do it' but 'can I match the modeling standards of my club friends' - they really are very good. I'll post back here as I make progress and as I start to implement some of the innovations I'm eager to try ... I also have a blog/website which I may use for more detailed information ... not sure yet what to do. Regards to all BJ lovers, David

Although this thread seems to have gone a little cold, I thought I should add my project - Barnstaple Junction (North Devon), SR & GWR (some), mid-1930s, EM The move to a new (to us) house has provided a loft I can stand up in. Having started the boarding out and adding insulation etc. this time last year, it is now finished - a space of about 19 feet by 16 feet. With the help of the Treasurer at my club (SHMRC), the layout is being transferred into Templot. There are compromises on lengths and curves, but it will be recognisable. I hope to exhibit, so the plan is to replace the curves necessary to keep the layout within the rood space with straight sections for public viewing. It will be lots of work, but the operational interest in such a place as Barnstaple is worth it.

I see there is the 2015 'Best in Show' layout from ExpoEM (Bracknell) ... Westcliff by Richard Butler - Looking forward to seeing it again.

Does anyone know if this list is currently up to date? Especially, is there a GBL available yet? My research hasn't turned anything up. Thanks

I've just found some D&S etches ... they're W-irons ... but after being in storage for 20+ years, I've lost the packet they came in and can't remember what they were bought for. The etch has the number DS520 on it. Can anyone (with an old list) tell me what they're for? I think they're wagon w-irons. Are they suitable for EM, and do I need any other components to compensation? Thanks.

Hi all. I have Vol 1 of the set, but I've never seen a vol 2 listed or mentioned anywhere ... I recall there were publishing problems 20+ years ago which delayed it ... did it actually get published? Thanks, David